OPPORTUNITIES FOR RCDS IN NEW
GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND
PROGRAMS
Annual Resource Conservation District Conference
San Diego
November 14, 2014
Amrith (Ami) Gunasekara, PhD
Science Advisor to the Secretary
Carolyn Cook, MSc
Climate Change Specialist
THE GGRF
2
The Legislature and Governor appropriate proceeds from the
sale of State-owned allowances for projects that support the
goals of AB 32. Strategic investment of these proceeds
furthers the goals of AB 32 by reducing GHG emissions,
providing net GHG sequestration, and supporting the longterm, transformative efforts needed to improve public and
environmental health and develop a clean energy economy.
THE DROUGHT AND SB 103
3

Emergency drought legislation bill (SB 103) signed by
Governor Brown on March 1, 2014
$10 million from the
Greenhouse Gas
Reduction Fund for the
California Department of
Food and Agriculture to
invest in irrigation and
water pumping systems
that reduce water use,
energy use and
greenhouse gas emissions
http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18432
MORE ON SB 103
CDFA as the lead agency states;
“$10,000,000 shall be available for encumbrance until June 30, 2015,
for consultation and coordination with the Department of Water
Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB), to establish and implement a program, on or before July
1,
2014…."
"…to
provide financial incentives to agricultural operations to invest
in water irrigation treatment and distribution systems that reduce
water and energy use, augment supply and increase water and
energy efficiency in agricultural applications."
"Incentives shall be ranked and distributed based on financial need,
immediacy of water supply increased and efficiency gained to address
water shortages, and reduction in water pumping or treatment that
uses energy causing greenhouse gas emissions.”
CDFA AUTHORITY
Fits well under the Environmental Farming Act of 1995.
Division 1, Part 1, Chapter 3, Article 8.5, Sections 560-568
Section 566. (a)
The department shall establish and oversee an
environmental farming program. The program shall provide
incentives to farmers whose practices promote the wellbeing of ecosystems, air quality, and wildlife and their
habitat.
Act posted online at;
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/EnvironmentalStewardship/pdfs/CannellaEnvironment
alFarmingAct.pdf
SWEEP
6

First round
 Must
reduce water OR GHG;
 $50,000 max
 Funded 93 applications at $3.6 million
 Total applications received = 130 (71% funded)

Second round
 Must
reduce water AND GHG;
 $150,000 max
 Application deadline Nov. 10, 2014;
 321 applications submitted
SWEEP – IMPORTANT PARTS
7









Online application
Quantifiable water savings and GHG reductions
Budget and matching funds
Documentation required for data provided
Schematic and project design
Six month implementation period
Use of NRCS Conservation Practices
Review component (Universities)
Verification component
8
9
10
11
OTHER OPPERTUNITES
12










Online application (RCDs)
Quantifiable water savings and GHG reductions (RCDs)
Budget and matching funds (RCDs)
Documentation required for data provided
Schematic and project design (RCDs)
Six month implementation period
Use of NRCS Conservation Practices(RCDs)
Review component (Universities)
Verification component (RCDs)
Assisting growers with project implementation
OTHER OPPERTUNITES
13





CDFA is working with NRCS to develop GHG reduction
estimates for its conservation practices.
GGRF $ can be used to incentivize the implementation
of conservation practices on working lands including
rangelands
Conservation practices focused on carbon sequestration
and soil health (building recalcitrant organic matter pools
and GHG reductions)
Requires long term verification where RCDs might be
able to play a role in
Discussion topic in SGC and in DOC
Thanks!
http://ericjacobsononmanagement.blogspot.com
Amrith (Ami) Gunasekara, PhD
Science Advisor to the Secretary
Amrith.gunasekara@cdfa.ca.gov